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Guide Weekend

The Guides had a great weekend in Glencree...read all about it here

Details

Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th October

Photos to follow shortly!

Friday night saw the Guides arriving at Glencree and once everyone had checked into their rooms we all met in the common room for an introduction. After splitting the girls into their patrols and playing a few icebreakers, we sat down to hot chocolate and biscuits and our entertainment for the night, 'Don't Forget the Lyrics'. It was very funny, even the Guiders surprised us with their atrocious singing voices!! The
girls were eager to get to their rooms that night, although I don't think any of them actually got into their beds and slept!!

Saturday morning two of the facilitators took the girls off for indoor and outdoor games which all the girls really seemed to enjoy immensely. After a yummy lunch in the Armoury restaurant we got down to some PL Training. The ideas from the girls were flowing and everyone got really involved in the discussions. A lot of hard work was done so we allowed
them to have dinner and promised them an evening of fun. The girls begged and pleaded to be allowed watch The X-Factor, so while watching that they painted their little wooden trinket boxes. Jessie, the facilitator came in and told us a ghost story and then brought us out on a "ghost walk" around the grounds. You know, sometimes it's the Guiders that cause more trouble than the Guides, every so often the "scary" Guiders would jump out in front of us from some dark hiding place, frightened the bee gees out of us all and I thought they were all off having a nice cup of tea!! After a very energetic Campfire we all headed to bed, where I can
honestly say we all slept like logs.

Sunday morning finished up the PL Training and again the girls were full of ideas and enthusiasm, there really are great little patrols working together, up and down the country, The Patrol System lives strong!! Following a good clean up and a scrumptious dinner finally it was time to say goodbye. All the girls headed home, hopefully happy and a little wiser.
Just want to end by saying a huge thanks to all the Guiders on the weekend, you were all such a great help and looked after me brilliantly, THANK YOU. Also I want to say thanks a mil to Glencree, the staff were fantastic and the food was delicious, especially the latte's!!

Thank-you to everyone else who helped me organise this
weekend.

Amanda Byrne National Commissioner for Guides

Report by Rhianne, St. Anne's, Clonard, Ferns Diocese

Friday 9th October saw a group of 5 Guides and 2 Leaders leaving Wexford at 6pm for the journey by bus to Glencree Recreation Centre in Enniskerry for what promised to be a weekend of fun, laughter and a chance to meet new friends. On arriving at Glencree, we were met by some of the leaders from Dublin. After an introduction of our Leaders for
the weekend, we all had sandwiches and hot drinks, no washing up involved!!! Once settled into our rooms we all met up for mixing into our groups for the weekend. We christened our groups and made up name games. The fun and laughter bit came next with an hilarious journey into the world of "Don't forget the Lyrics" (or should that be DO forget
the lyrics).

Saturday breakfast was a noisy affair with everyone chatting away as if they'd known each other forever. More games and fun were had during the morning activities. Outside games used up loads of energy. There was plenty of variety on offer - no-one could have complained of being bored anyway!!!.

As night fell, armed with jackets, we were led on aspooky hike by Jessie, who told scary stories, helped in no small way by our trusted Leaders.... Did I say trusted, if only we had realised just how much NOT to trust them. It was difficult but we managed to enjoy our lovely dinner after all that. Campfire came next, including sketches - remember... what happens at a campfire, stays at a campfire!!! No embarrassing stories please. Free time before bed and a chance to gossip - sorry, discuss, what had happened since our arrival, to enjoy the company of all our new friends and chill out.

Sunday after breakfast and packing, we attended Mass in the centre, were we were made to feel very welcome. The leaders behaved very well at that, (thank goodness!!) More games and activities before lunch followed by photo sessions, hugs and goodbyes, exchanges of phone numbers and promises to text soon. A weekend that filled all of the promised fun, laughter and new friends. I can't wait till the next event that I can meet up with the rest of the girls again. And O.K. the leaders can come too!!!

Rhianne

Letter from Glencree

Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
Glencree, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
12th Oct 2009

Dear Amanda,
I hope that both yourself and your group of girl
guides enjoyed your visit to Glencree. They were an
extremely mannerly, courteous and most helpful
young group and are a credit to their leaders. It
was a pleasure to have had them in the Armoury.
My best wishes to you all.

Eileen
Eileen Kennedy
Visitor Centre Manager

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